This is normally as rough as it gets for the MX-5
Mazda is planning an SUV based on the much-loved MX-5 sports car.
Fans of the MX-5 may be puzzled to hear that the company wants to use its rear-drive platform to create a downsized SUV, which appears to go against everything the agile two-seater once stood for.
Mazda wants to share the MX-5 chassis with the sports utility and says it will unveil a new under-wraps city vehicle next year.
European boss James Muir said that he was interested in developing smaller, lighter SUVs, using the iconic sports car’s rear-wheel drive platform, and confirmed the car would presented to the world’s media at the 2008 motor show in Paris.
Mazda is exploring the trend towards downsizing of SUVs, he said.
‘I do see SUVs getting smaller and being more car-like in their behaviour. ‘Maybe we can look at rear-wheel-drive platform sharing and we have a rear-wheel-drive platform with the MX-5.
‘That’s an opportunity for us to look at how we might develop a lighter-weight product.
‘We have done a lot of work on the technology side with high tensile steel, which is much more lightweight.
‘We are also looking at lighter weight power trains and there is a lot of scope there particularly with diesel power trains to see how we can create lighter engine blocks using different alloys and metals.’
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